Pile-driver



C. W. MILLER.

PILE DRIVER.

APPLICATION FILED luNE so. 1920.

A c. w. MILLER.

PILE DRIVER.

APPLlcAnoN man :uns a0, |920.

m. w www d n Aw@ n m P MM; E 2 .7 0 9 Vsneak w. MILLER, or JANEsvILLE, wisconsin.

PILE-DRIVER. i Y

i ,sedeva This invention has for its object to provide an improved drop hammer which, owing to its convenience of transportation and capability of wide range of adjustment is particularlyl adapted to driving fence posts' and braces therefor.

tA further object is the provision of a novel pivotal mounting and manually operable adjusting means for the hammer guides whereby the latter Vmaybe readily tilted for convenience and efficiency in driving inclined posts or braces.` Y

A still further object resides' in the provision of an improvedA elevatingand tripping mechanism for the hammer wherebyV the latter may be operated.V jat maximum speed.

` Withthesefand other objects in view, the.

invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and inthe drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention. j

A Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the improved'pile driver.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 represents a horizontal' sectional view throughthe hammer guides, looking downwardly.

Fig. 4 represents an enlarged sectional l view through the hammerremoved from the guides, and', Y j

Fig. 5 represents a vvhorizontal sectional view through the hammer,

Referring to the drawing in detail, Wherein ,similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates the supporting platform `of the pile driver which is equipped with an axle 6 carrying wheels 7 upon which the platform is supported in an elevated position convenient for transportation. The rear portion of the platform. is provided withV a coupling 8v designed forV attachment to a tractor or otherv conveying means and also designed for connection with a suitable stationary object to maintain the stability of the machine when in operation'.

An angular supporting plate 10 is rigidly' Specification of LettersPatent. Patented Biggy 31, 1921,I Application mea rune an, i920. seriai No. 393,172. l i

attached tothe rear central portion of the platform 5 and the upstanding vertical portion thereof receives a horizontally disposed pivot pin 11 whichalsoextends through a horizontal lconnecting plat-e 12 between the drear pair of vertical guides 13 whereby the latter are mounted for tilting movement. A second pair of-guides y14 is arranged forwardly of the guides 13 and in spacedrelation thereto to provide a guideway 15 through which the lateral extensions 16 of the hammer 17 are verticallymovable.v

The lguides 13 and 14 are preferably formed of channel iron and the lower ends of the guides at each side of the hammer 17 are connected by a bearing member 18 which constitutes a spacing element for the guides and also asupport for the lower chain ,supporting shafts 19. y j The vupper terminals of the guides 13 and 14 at each side of the hammer are'connected by upstanding'bearing members 20 receiving ported 'by L-shaped brackets 252L attached! to j vthe guides 13,` the shaft 25 being provided,

Vat its opposite end withv a relatively large sprocket wheel26- for receiving a driving chain or equivalent power transmitting device whereby power is transmitted to fthe pile driver. 1

T'heguide frame for the hammer 17 consisting of the several vguides 13 and 14 is tiltable upon the pivot pin 11, adjustment" thereof being readily accomplished by manual rotation'of the 4shaft 27 carrying a worm 28 which meshes with' a toothed bar 29 connecting the rear guides 13. The shaft 27 issupported in uprightsBO mounted upon the front portion of the platform 5 vand is preferably provided wit'ha squared terminal for coaction with `the jaws of a wrench or with a handle crank for convenj ien'ce'in adjustment thereof. n Sprocket wheels 31 and ,32 are arranged upon the lower and uppershafts 19 and 21, respectively, and coact with a pair of chains 33 arranged outwardlyof' the guides 13 and 14 and carrying hooks 34 for engaging portions ofV the hammer 17 and elevating the latter. l Y The hammer 17 i consisting in a relatively heavy body receivinga vertically movable plunger 35 having headed upper and lower extremities 36. rllhe kbody 17 of the hammer is formed with a medially enlarged longitudinal passage 37 which intersects the bore receivin' the plunger 35 and receives a pair of oppositelyarranged slidable elevating arms 38, The inner extremities of the arms are pivotally connected at 3911i the slotted portion 4i() of the plunger 35 and the restricted outer portions of the opening are rounded as at 41 to permit the necessary tilting movement of the arms 38 when the pivotal axis 39 thereof is lowered due to depression of the plunger 35 with relation to the hammer body 17. The arrangement of the plunger is such that when moved upwardly within the hammer body 17 to the position illustrated in full lines in il, the elevation of the pivot pin 39 effects outward projection ofthe terminals of the arms 3S beyond the ribs or flanges 16 of the body 17 and in such position the terminals of the arms are disposed in a position to be engaged by the hooks of the traveling chains 33. As the hammer approaches the limit ofits up-` ward movement the upper headed extremity 36 of the plunger is engaged by the abutment 42 suspended beneath a connecting rod 4:3 between the upper portions of the guides 13 and 14C and during continued upward movement of the hammer body the plunger y35 is displaced downwardly effecting the automatic retraction of the terminals of the arms33 thereby disengaging the latter from the hooks 34 and permitting the hammer to fall by gravity downwardlybetween the guides 13 and 14. incident to the impact of the hammer with the post or other object being driven, the plunger 35 is projected upwardly through the body 17 resulting in the projection of the arms 38 which are again engaged by the hooks 3a of the chains and elevated thereby, whereupon the hammer is again elevater.

A post or pile guide or supporting plate L15 is provided with laterally projecting arms 4:6 which are pivotally secured at 47 to angular brackets 18 attached to the front guides 14. The plate 45 is designed to initial-ly support the post in a desired position prior to the driving thereof, but after the post has been partially driven, the supporting plate i8 may be swung outwardly to inoperative position and the driving op'- eration continued until the post is driven to the desired depth. ln driving inclined posts or in operating the driving machine upon sloping ground, the desired angularity ofthe guides with relation to the axle 6 may be readily obtained by proper adjustment of the worm 28. l

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claims may be made 1n the 'construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

V7 hat is claimed is:

1. 1n combination, a pair of guides, chains arranged adjacent said guides, hooks carried by said chains, a hammer reciprocably nounted in said guides, hook engaging arms pivoted transversely and movably mounted in said hammer, a connecting rod between said guides, an abutment carried thereby, and Vmeans for withdrawing said arms to permit thehammer to drop, when engaged by said abutment.

2.1n combination, a pair of guides, a hammer mounted for reciprocation in said guides, elevating chains having the upwardly moving portions thereof disposed adjacent the guides and hammer, arms carried by the hammer engageable with the chains for elevating the hammer, actuating means for said arms to retract the latter from chain engaging position, and an abutment adapted to be engaged by the actuating means whereby the arms are withdrawn as the hammer approaches the limit of its upward movement.

3. 1nv combination, a pair of guides, a hammer mounted for reciprocation therein, endless elevating chains having the upwardly moving portions thereof disposed adjacent the hammer, chain engaging arms carried by the hammer and movable inwardly thereof to disengage the chains, a plunger slidably mounted in the hammer connected with the arms for withdrawing the latter, said plunger being arranged to project the arms upon impact of the hammer with a post, and an abutment adapted tobe engaged bythe plunger to effect retraction of the arms and disengagement of the latter from the chains.

4C. 1n combination, a freely movable wheeled frame,`a pair of guides, bearing and spacing members connecting the upper and lower extremities of said guides, sprockets carried by said spacing members, a vertically reciprocable hammer operable within said guides, elevating' chains having hooks, driven by said sprockets, horizontally pivoted arms within the hammer and engageable by the saidhooks, a transverse rod and abutment carried thereby between the guides, and adapted to disengage the said arms and permit the hammer to fall from its elevated position.

5. 1n combination, a freely movable wheeled frame, a pair of guides, bearing and spacing members connecting the upper and lower extremities of said guides, sprockets carried by said spacing members, a vertically reciprocable hammeroperable within said guides, manually operable means including a horizontal rack and worm Vgear for angling the guides, and a post Supporting plate pivotally mounted to one of said guides.

6. In combination, a freely movable support, a pair of pivotally supported guides, bearing and spacing members connecting the upper and lower extremities of said guides, a horizontal rack, between said 10 guides, a supporting plate and a worm gear meshing with Said rack, a manually operable means for Said rack and gear to angle the guides, 'a post supporting plate vertically secured to one of said guides, and a vertically reciprocable hammer intermittently operable in said guides. y

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature hereto. Y

CLARK W. MILLER. 

